Carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrier is provided for transporting various detergents, bleaches and fabric softeners to a laundry for use which carrier is of multi-compartment configuration with a plurality of moisture proof shock resistant containers disposed therein with screw type caps and measuring dispensers, the carrier including an outer housing readily accessible for use and with a handle for transporting.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,842,976 D83 1 1 Oct. 22,1974

1 1 CARRIER 3,433,383 3/1969 Phibbs .220/8 H61 Inventor:JoephW-DewwDixon/m 3:231:33 i233? $223551: ..:8/

[22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 326,991

[52] U.S. Cl 206/203, 206/223, 220/21 [51] Int. Cl B65d 1/26, B65d 85/62[58] Field of Search 206/47 R, 65 E, 65 C;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,743,836 5/l956 Roberts217/19 2,821,327 H1958 Glazer 220/23.6 2,948,433 8/1960 Fineo 220/1023,312,366 4/1967 Poris 220/23 Croydon, Pa. 19020 PrimaryExaminer-WillizimT. Dixson, Jr. 7 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zachary T.Wobensmith, 2nd

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A' carrier is provided for transporting various deter- 1Claim, 5 Drawing Figures CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to a carrier of the type whichincludes an outer housing with a plurality of containers, removablycarried therein, with caps and measuring dispensers on the containersand a handle on the housing.

2. Description of the Prior Art This invention has been developed toprovide an inexpensive, handy carrier for the various essential laundryneeds normally required when using coin-operated washing machines atlaundry centers.

The use of coin-operated washing machines at laundry centers is becomingmore and more popular, with a steady increase in the number of users.The regular users, normally, in addition to carrying the clothes to bewashed, also take with them their preferred detergents, fabricsofteners, soaps, bleaches, etc. These items are carried in boxes,baskets, and in various makeshift ways, most of which are bulky, unhandyand difficult to carry along with an armful of clothes.

This problem is overcome with the use of the present laundry kit whichoffers a tote box for the laundry essentials, such as detergents,bleach, fabric softener, etct The kit permits carrying of such items ina neat, compact manner, while allowing for selective, measured use ofany of the items. Thus, with this handy kit, wash day is made mucheasier for the user of the coinoperated washing machines. In addition,the kit allows the washing materials to be compactly stored at home,ready for the next trip to the Laundromat, eliminating the need forsearching, packing, etc., before each trip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A carrier is provided which includes an outerhousing, and a plurality of containers removably carried within thehousing accessible for readily dispensing measured quantities of theircontents.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a carrier that isconvenient for use by an individual at coin operated washing machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier that securelyholds a plurality of containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier wherein itscontainers are provided with caps and covers that may be used fordispensing measured quantities of the containers contents.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features ofthe invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart hereof, in which:

. FIG. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating the carrier of theinvention ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 2--2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 33of.FlG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the carrier of FIG. 1 and FIG. Sis a frontelevational view, enlarged, in partial section illustrating one of thecontainers used with the carrier of FIG. 1.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, the carrier 10 includes an outer housing 11 of squareconfiguration which can be formed of any suitable material with moldedpolyethelene plastic being one of the preferred materials.

The housing 11 has a front panel 12, rear panel 14, and side panels 15.The panels 12, 14 and 15 are of one piece construction with roundedcorners 18 where they join. A bottom panel 19 closes off the housing atits bottom joining the front panel 12, rear panel 14 and side panels 15with rounded corners 20 at their points of intersection.

The housing 11 is open at the top, and is illustrated as being dividedinto four compartments 21 by a vertical panel 22 which joins the sides15 midway of their length and a vertical panel 23 which joins the frontand rear panels 12 and 14 midway their length and is perpendicular topanel 22.

The panel 22 terminates at the same height as panels 12, 14 and 15 andthe panel 23 extends above the panel 12, 14 and 15, and is provided withan opening 25 suitable for hand hold for transporting. Containers 27which may be used with the carrier 10 are shown in place in FIG. 1 to 4and one container 27 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. Thecontainers 27 are of rect angular bottle like shape with a neck 28having a large opening 30. The neck 28 has external screw threads 31with which a screw cap 32 is engaged.

Measuring dispensers 33 are provided removably engaged with the screwcaps 32 and may be of predetermined size which may be in ounces or cups.Suitable indicia (not shown) may be placed on the dispensers 33 toindicate their capacity.

The containers 27 may be formed of blow molded polyethlene plasticpreferably of the clear variety so that the level of the contents isvisible and are of a size such that they have a snug fit in thecompartments 20 but may be removed if desired. Such containers 27 areresistant to shock, are not subject to breakage if dropped and arewaterproof and moisture proof.

It will thus be seen that apparatus has been provided with which theobjects of the invention are attained.

I claim:

1. A carrier of the tote box type which comprises an outer rigid unitaryhousing of synthetic plastic and of box-like configuration open at thetop and closed at the bottom, said housing having vertical panelsconsisting of a front panel, a rear panel, and spaced side panels, and ahorizontal bottom wall panel, and having perpendicular centrallydisposed vertical panels joining the front, rear, bottom and side panelsand separating the interior of the housing into four compartments,

compartment,

each of said containers having a closure and a measuring dispenserremovably engaged with the closure and in covering relation to a majorportion of the top of the container and providing a portion for grippingfor removal of a container from its compartment.

1. A carrier of the tote box type which comprises an outer rigid unitaryhousing of synthetic plastic and of boxlike configuration open at thetop and closed at the bottom, said housing having vertical panelsconsisting of a front panel, a rear panel, and spaced side panels, and ahorizontal bottom wall panel, and having perpendicular centrallydisposed vertical panels joining the front, rear, bottom and side panelsand separating the interior of the housing into four compartments, oneof said central vertical panels extending upwardly above the uppermargins of the other vertical panels, said one of said vertical panelshaving a horizontally elongated opening therein for a hand hold, andeach of said compartments having a shock resistant and moistureresistant container of horizontal cross section complemental to that ofeach of the compartments and in snug fitting engagement in eachcompartment, each of said containers having a closure and a measuringdispenser removably engaged with the closure and in covering relation toa major portion of the top of the container and providing a portion forgripping for removal of a container from its compartment.